Cauvery delta farmers face worst drought in 50 yrs' as crops fail

Thanjavur: Predominantly agriculture oriented, life in Thanjavur district revolves around farmers and farm workers. Everything will be fine for them if they take a bumper ‘kuruvai’ (short-term paddy) and ‘samba’ (long-term paddy) crops in a year. But during 2016, all was not well for them as they lost both ‘kuruvai’ and ‘samba’ in canal-irrigated areas.

Starting of a good agriculture year hinges on the water storage at the time of closure of Mettur dam on January 28 every year. If the dam is closed with good storage, a successful ‘kuruvai’ is ensured. If not, then opening of the dam on June 12, traditional date for opening of the dam for ‘kuruvai’ cultivation in the Cauvery delta areas, will be postponed.

This year, storage was not comfortable at the time of closure of the dam and it has not improved even after that. Hence, the dam was not opened on June 12. Farmers in canal- irrigated areas could not take up 'Kuruvai' in Thanjavur district.
Loss of ‘Kuruvai’ means loss of money to farmers, as it is a money-spinner.

Farmers sell all the ‘Kuruvai’ paddy while they keep some quantity of ‘samba’ for their personal use and sell rest of the quantity. Loss of ‘Kuruvai’ reflected in the subdued celebration of Deepavali also in Thanjavur district this year, as farmers did not have money that will come to them by selling the harvested ‘Kuruvai’ paddy.

Mettur dam was opened on September 20, rather late for even ‘samba’ cultivation this year. But flow of water could not be maintained due to poor storage and truant monsoon. Water was given, that too in turn system, (giving water continuously in a river system, namely, either in Cauvery or Vennar for six days) for 40 days and water release was stopped on October 30.

Cauvery, the lifeline of the delta districts in Tamil Nadu, could not come to the rescue of the farmers, as Karnataka was reluctant to release water. With Northeast monsoon also bringing scanty rainfall, ‘samba’ raised in canal irrigated areas ran into rough weather. Farmers allowed cattle to graze the ‘samba’ seedlings.

The drought brought with it death and suicide of farmers which were attributed by their relatives to crop failure. With nearly ten farmers, (Thanjavur district alone-more in the delta and in Tamil Nadu), who either died naturally or committed suicide, a pall of gloom has descended in various villages.
All the farmers who died were small farmers, many of whom have taken land on lease and cultivated borrowing loans.

Cauvery issue dominated throughout the year and cast its shadow when finally Central Government refused to form the ‘Cauvery Management Board (CMB)’.
For the farmers, most of the months went in agitations this year than doing cultivation due to water scarcity. Even as the farmers end the year with agitations before collectorates demanding drought relief, they hope that at least 2017 may not be the same.

“This year is not a good year for farmers. This is only a difficult year and no farmer can feel happy. I expected to save at least direct sown ‘samba’ crop as I felt that farmers can get at least two or three wettings in November or December, but it is not so. Meteorological predictions have gone wrong this year. Only crop insurance can help,” said Mannargudi S. Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association.

“We have to have a water level of 65-ft to 70-ft, when Mettur dam is closed on January 28 to have a good ‘Kuruvai’ crop. This year water level stood at only 45-ft. It has not reached 80-ft throughout the year. Hence dam could not be opened on June 12 and for ‘samba’ it was opened on September 20, which was very late. I have not seen such a drought situation in the past 50 years,” Ranganathan added.

Sami Nadarajan, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivsayigal Sangam, affiliated to CPI (M), Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary, Thanjai District Cauvery Farmers Protection Association also echoed the same sentiments.